Cabinet Office

Resilience Update

Baroness Neville-Rolfe: My Rt. Hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Oliver Dowden CBE MP, has today made the following statement:Today, I can confirm that the Government has launched phase one of the Emergency Alerts system - a UK-wide capability based on Cell Broadcasting technology developed by the Cabinet Office and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology in conjunction with Mobile Network Operators.The system launch commenced on Sunday 19 March and will allow emergency responders to send Emergency Alerts, with a distinctive message appearance and tone, to every compatible mobile device within a selected geographical area at very short notice, providing a highly flexible capability for prompting quick action from the public. In order to test the technology, the pilot will focus only on notifying the public of the most serious severe weather and flooding risks over the first three months, followed by a review process.This system will transform the United Kingdom’s emergency warning and informing capability - providing a means to provide urgent information to nearly 90% of mobile phones within a defined area. This area can be as limited as an electoral ward, or expanded as far as the whole of the United Kingdom. The technology has been used successfully in a number of other countries, such as the United States, Canada and Japan, where it has been proven to save lives. Ahead of the launch, the government has worked in partnership with the Devolved Administrations and Local Resilience Forums to ensure that relevant emergency responders across the United Kingdom have an understanding of the capability.There will be a very high threshold for its use based on strict criteria centred on an immediate risk to life. Despite this, members of the public will be able to opt-out of the system if they do not wish to receive Emergency Alerts. The system is secure, with alerts only able to be sent by authorised governmental and emergency services users.We have worked closely with our devolved partners to ensure the capability is available throughout the UK and this close collaboration will continue throughout the pilot phase. The UK Government will issue alerts for incidents in England, or that relate to reserved matters. Alerts to be released in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland will be communicated in advance to resilience officials in the relevant devolved government. On matters that are devolved, Ministers from the relevant administrations may approve the alert.A communications campaign will lead up to a UK-wide national message on 23 April. This will seek to maximise public awareness and familiarise people with the format and style of the message. Our research shows that other countries have found such test messages to be highly effective in improving public understanding. This alert will be simultaneously broadcast to all compatible devices and will be sent in both English and Welsh to recipients in Wales.This important development will allow us to validate the effectiveness of the system and build familiarity and trust, laying the foundations for the potential wider use of Emergency Alerts in the future.

Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities

English Freeports Update

Baroness Scott of Bybrook: My Honourable friend the Minister for Levelling Up (Dehenna Davison MP) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement:Today I have the pleasure of announcing that Thames Freeport has received final government approval, in a massive boost to South Essex and the wider region. This is a pivotal landmark for the Freeports programme and comes less than 4 months after I announced the first group to receive approval. The speed of progress sends a clear message: the Government is backing these areas to grow and thrive.Freeports form an important part of this Government’s economic strategy and will catalyse investment through a combination of tax reliefs, public funding, and government support. These measures will drive growth, create jobs and, in turn, transform opportunities for local communities: a real example of levelling up in action.The Thames Freeport will now receive up to £25 million in seed funding and potentially hundreds of millions in locally retained business rates to upgrade local infrastructure and stimulate regeneration. This is alongside generous tax reliefs and a simplified customs procedure, all backed by a package of trade and innovation support for businesses located there.Armed with these tools, the Thames Freeport will drive investment in and around the ports of South Essex and Ford’s world-class Dagenham Engine Plant. This will bring jobs of the future – in sectors such as advanced manufacturing and hydrogen – to local communities.And this is only the beginning. Across government, we are working closely with the English Freeports to support them to achieve their objectives and deliver transformational benefits for their local areas.We also recently announced two successful Green Freeports in Scotland and we will be announcing the outcome of the Welsh competition shortly. Discussions continue with our stakeholders in Northern Ireland about how we can extend the benefits associated with the Freeport programme there.This is an incredibly exciting time for UK Freeports and the wider levelling up agenda as we start to see local areas bring their plans to life with big private investments, upgrades to local infrastructure, and bold regeneration initiatives in those areas that need a boost, creating real impacts for local people.

Leader of the House of Lords

Annual Report of the Investigatory Powers Commissioner 2021

Lord True: My Rt Hon Friend the Prime Minister has made the following statement.I have today laid before the House of Commons a copy of the Annual Report of the Investigatory Powers Commissioner, Rt Hon Sir Brian Leveson. The report covers the activities of the Investigatory Powers Commissioner’s Office (IPCO), the Office of Communications Data Authorisations (OCDA) and the Technology Advisory Panel (TAP) for 2021. I will also be sending a copy of this report to Scottish Ministers as required under section 234(8) of the Investigatory Powers Act 2016 (IPA).This report demonstrates the Government’s ongoing commitment to ensuring a high level of compliance with the regulations governing the use of investigatory powers. Sir Brian Leveson oversees the use of investigatory powers by over 600 public authorities, including the intelligence and security services and law enforcement agencies. He notes that he is continually impressed with the dedication and professionalism of the officials working within those bodies and that regulatory compliance continues to be treated as a high priority.The Annual Report contains a reference to an error identified in the Home Office’s arrangements for warrants authorised out of hours. IPCO were notified of this error immediately upon its discovery in November 2021 and the Home Office immediately put in place arrangements, which the Investigatory Powers Commissioner was content with, to rectify the problem.As required under section 234(6)(b) of the IPA, I wish to notify the House that there is material considered too sensitive for the open report on which I have been briefed separately. I am satisfied that, following consultation with relevant government departments and agencies, the contents of this report are not prejudicial to national security or ongoing investigations.I would like to place on record my thanks to the current and previous Commissioners and their staff for their work. In particular, I am pleased that Sir Brian Leveson agreed to another three-year term from 21 October 2022. I also note the appointment of Dame Muffy Calder as the new Chair of IPCO’s Technology Advisory Panel and welcome the expertise she and her colleagues will provide on emerging technology.Maintaining public trust and confidence in the exercise of the investigatory powers vital for national security and public safety is a top priority for the Government. This report demonstrates the high quality of the oversight of our intelligence and security agencies’ use of the most intrusive powers. I am satisfied that our oversight arrangements are amongst the strongest and most effective in the world.I commend this report to the House.

Ministry of Defence

Ajax Payments Update

Baroness Goldie: My hon. Friend, the Minster for Defence Procurement (Alex Chalk) has today made the following written ministerial statement. I wish to provide a further update on the Ajax equipment project being delivered as part of the Armoured Cavalry programme. The Ajax Platform Ajax is part of our £41 billion investment in British Army equipment and support over the next decade, delivering critical modernisation to address the threats of today and the future. The Ajax Programme will deliver 589 vehicles to the British Army made up of 6 variants allowing the Army to operate in all weathers, 24 hours a day. The range and capabilities of the sensors on the platform and the on-board software will deliver a step-change in the surveillance capability of the Army. Ajax will provide a world leading competitive advantage, from its suite of cutting-edge sensors, modular armour packs and its 40mm stabilised cannon. Recovering the programme The Ministry of Defence have openly acknowledged the problems previously faced by the Ajax programme. Alongside General Dynamics, the Ministry of Defence has successfully completed User Validations Trials to validate the design modifications which have addressed the noise and vibration concerns, allowing the commencement of programmed Reliability Growth Trials on 31 January. Reliability Growth Trials are a standard part of the acquisition process for military equipment of this nature. These trials stress test the durability of the vehicle’s platform and components through a series of battlefield missions that represent years of activity on the platform. Since starting, the AJAX, APOLLO, ATLAS and ARES variants have driven over 2,260 kilometres through different terrains, completing a variety of representative battlefield tasks such as operating across a range of speeds and terrains, firing weapon systems, using the vehicles systems and communications and completing specialist tasks such as vehicle recoveries and repairs using the integrated crane. Reliability Growth Trials are progressing well. No fundamental design issues have arisen to date. These trials are part of a broader trials programme aimed at validating that contracted vehicle requirements are met. The MOD have developed with General Dynamics a revised schedule for the delivery of vehicles that is, subject to contract amendment, robust, realistic, and achievable. Revised key delivery milestones set a meaningful Initial Operating Capability of a trained and deployable squadron. This is scheduled to be achieved between July and December 2025. Full Operating Capability will be met when the Army has trained and converted forces to the Ajax platform to deliver Armoured Cavalry capability to the Deep Reconnaissance Strike Brigade and its two Armoured Brigade Combat Teams. This is scheduled to be achieved between October 2028 and September 2029. The ability to deliver against this new schedule has been extensively scrutinised and assured within the department and externally. A recent review by the Infrastructure and Projects Authority concluded the programme’s successful delivery is feasible, re-grading the Ajax programme from Red to Amber.  Resuming Contract Payments The Ministry of Defence remains clear it will only accept vehicles that comply with General Dynamics’ contractual obligations. The department has withheld payments for work completed and had not made a payment since December 2020. Given the satisfactory progress against the programme, the department will resume payments this month, starting with a payment of £480 million. This is approximately half of what has been held back since December 2020. Restarting payments to General Dynamics reflects the fact that the programme continues to return to a firm footing and supports the delivery of the schedule to deliver operational capability. The payment will cascade to the UK-wide supply chain of more than 230 companies, reinforcing confidence the programme is progressing and providing for more than 4000jobs, including hundreds in South Wales. Future payments will be made against the new schedule and its milestones, conditional on the delivery of compliant and deployable Ajax vehicles and continued progress of remaining trials activity. We have a robust firm price contract for the delivery of 589 vehicles, which will ensure that General Dynamics are incentivised to deliver against agreed outcomes. As such, the whole programme remains within its originally approved budget.  Learning Lessons The Ajax programme is turning a corner, but this does not remove the need for the department to identify and learn lessons. We have always been clear that we will not shy away from taking action to change the culture and processes across Defence as necessary. We look forward to receiving the finalised report from Clive Sheldon KC on the Ajax Lessons Learned Review and publishing it as soon as practicable.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

Second Meeting of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement Partnership Council

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: My Right Honourable Friend, the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs (James Cleverly), has made the following Written Ministerial Statement:The next meeting of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement Partnership Council will take place in London on 24 March 2023, with delegations attending in person and by video conference.The meeting will be co-chaired by the Foreign Secretary the Rt Hon James Cleverly MP and Vice President of the European Commission Maroš Šefčovič.The agenda will include:1. Opening remarks by the co-Chairs and adoption of the agenda2. EnergyElectricity trading (Article 312 TCA)Security of supply cooperation and working arrangements for TSOs (Articles 315 and 317 TCA)EU Green Deal Industrial Plan3. RegulationMoU on Financial ServicesWorking Groups (Article 9 TCA)Intellectual PropertyUK Retained EU Law BillBill of Rights Bill4. SecurityCooperation on cybersecurity (Article 703 TCA)Cooperation on counterterrorism (Article 768 TCA)Passenger Name Records (Article 552(4) TCA)5. Union Programmes6. AOB7. Concluding remarks by the co-chairs

Tenth Meeting of the Withdrawal Agreement Joint Committee

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: My Right Honourable Friend, the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs (James Cleverly), has made the following Written Ministerial Statement:The next meeting of the Withdrawal Agreement Joint Committee will take place in London on 24 March 2023, with delegations attending in person and by video conference.The meeting will be co-chaired by the Foreign Secretary the Rt Hon James Cleverly MP and Vice President of the European Commission Maroš Šefčovič.The agenda will include:1. Welcome and opening remarks from the co-chairs1.1. Formal adoption of the agenda1.2. Stocktake of Specialised Committee activity 21 February 2022 – 24 March 2023.2. Update on Withdrawal Agreement Implementation in accordance with Article 164 of the Withdrawal Agreement2.1. Citizens’ Rights2.2. The Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland / The Windsor Framework3. Decisions and Recommendations for Joint Committee adoption3.1. Decision No X/2023 laying down arrangements relating to the Windsor Framework3.2. Recommendation No X/2023 on market surveillance and enforcement3.3. Recommendation No X/2023 on Article 13(3a) of the Protocol on Ireland/Northern IrelandJoint Declaration to be made by the Union and the United Kingdom3.4. Joint Declaration No XX/20233.5. Joint Declaration on the application of Article 10(1) of the Windsor Framework3.6. Joint Declaration on Article 13(3a) of the Windsor Framework3.7. Joint Declaration number X3.8. Joint Declaration on the VAT regime for goods not being at risk for the Union’s internal market and on the VAT arrangements for cross border refundsUnited Kingdom Unilateral Declarations and Union Unilateral Declarations taking note3.9. Unilateral Declaration by the United Kingdom Involvement of the institutions of the 1998 Agreement (Annex 1 to the Decision No X/2023 laying down arrangements relating to the Windsor Framework)3.10. Unilateral Declaration by the United Kingdom on market surveillance and enforcement3.10.1 Unilateral Declaration by the Union taking note of the Unilateral Declaration by the United Kingdom on market surveillance and enforcement3.11. Unilateral Declaration by the United Kingdom on export procedures for goods moving from Northern Ireland to other parts of the United Kingdom3.11.1. Unilateral Declaration by the Union taking note of the Unilateral Declaration by the United Kingdom on export procedures for goods moving from Northern Ireland to other parts of the United Kingdom3.12. Unilateral Declaration by the United Kingdom on the democratic consent mechanism in Article 18 of the Windsor Framework3.12.1. Unilateral Declaration by the Union taking note of the Unilateral Declaration by the United Kingdom on the democratic consent mechanism in Article 18 of the Windsor Framework3.13. Unilateral Declaration by the United Kingdom on strengthening enforcement action for goods moved in parcels from another part of the United Kingdom to Northern Ireland3.13.1. Unilateral Declaration by the Union taking note of the Unilateral Declaration by the United Kingdom on strengthening enforcement action for goods moved in parcels from another part of the United Kingdom to Northern Ireland4. AOB5. Concluding remarks

Department for Business and Trade

UK-Ukraine Digital Trade Agreement – Signature

Lord Johnson of Lainston: My Rt Hon Friend the Secretary of State for Business and Trade (Kemi Badenoch MP) has today made the following statement.Today the UK has signed a Digital Trade Agreement (DTA) with Ukraine to support Ukraine’s economy and post-conflict reconstruction and cement the UK’s position as a global leader in digital trade. Ukraine’s recovery from Putin’s illegal and barbaric war will be a symbol of the power of freedom and democracy over autocracy. The UK-Ukraine Comprehensive Digital Trade Agreement is one way in which this Government is doing everything in our power to support Ukraine’s brave fight. Trading digitally is particularly important in the current conflict, where damage to Ukrainian infrastructure makes it harder to trade physically. Digital tools and technologies can ensure that Ukraine can continue to access vital goods and services. Ukraine identified greater digitalisation of the economy as one of their main areas of focus for recovery and modernisation. This is why we have worked tirelessly together to deliver a modern digital treaty that is the deepest and most comprehensive ever negotiated. Following signature, it will be laid before Parliament and published online. The Agreement should come into force later this year once both the UK and Ukraine have completed our respective domestic procedures. This Agreement will enhance UK-Ukraine cooperation on cybersecurity, make it easier to provide digitally delivered goods and services, guarantee the free flow of financial and other trusted data, and enhance collaboration on emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence. The UK’s services exports to Ukraine are increasingly digitised, with UK exports of digitally-delivered services amounting to £132 million in 2020 – 73% of all UK services exports to Ukraine. This DTA will enable UK and Ukrainian businesses to trade in each other’s markets more easily, and help Ukrainian businesses grow and recover from the impact of this cruel war.The dream of a new Ukraine is not only one of freedom and democracy, but also one of prosperity driven by a modern digital economy and the UK is proud to play its role in making this dream a reality.

Ministry of Justice

Domestic Homicide Sentencing Review - Publication and Interim Response

Lord Bellamy: My Right Honourable Friend the Deputy Prime Minister, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice has made the following statement:'Tackling violence against women and girls is a top priority for this Government and we are committed to ensuring that the most serious offenders spend longer in prison. Women should feel safe in their own home and our sentencing framework must reflect the seriousness of violence and abuse committed by those closest to them.The Government commissioned an independent expert, Clare Wade KC, to review sentencing in domestic homicide cases to establish whether current law and sentencing guidelines are fit for purpose and identify options for reform.Today, I am publishing Ms Wade KC’s Domestic Homicide Sentencing Review (the ‘Wade Review’) and announcing a package of proposed reforms to change the law so that sentencing reflects the seriousness of domestic homicides. The published review can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/domestic-homicide-sentencing-review.The Wade Review makes a number of other recommendations and the government's position will be outlined in a full response to be published before the summer recess. The measures announced today demonstrate our commitment to delivering tougher sentences for the perpetrators of these horrific crimes and allow for necessary legislation to be introduced as soon as possible. All recommendations in the review and the measures announced today apply to England and Wales.We will increase sentences for murderers with a history of controlling or coercive behaviour against the victim.The Serious Crime Act 2015 introduced the criminal offence of controlling or coercive behaviour. Controlling or coercive behaviour can comprise economic, emotional or psychological abuse. It does not relate to a single incident, but a purposeful pattern of behaviour over time. Controlling or coercive behaviour by the perpetrator towards the victim was identified in 51% of the murder cases analysed for this Review.Despite around a quarter of all homicides being classed as domestic, the legislation which sets out the sentencing framework for murder does not currently specifically account for the abuse that the victims in these cases often experience before death.The review recommends that a history of coercive or controlling behaviour should be added to the statutory aggravating factors to murder. We will introduce legislation to make this change as soon as possible to ensure abuse experienced before death is properly considered and serious offenders are kept off our streets for longer.We will consider further reform by consulting on whether the starting point should be 25 years for murders preceded by controlling or coercive behaviour. While the addition of a history of coercive or controlling behaviour as a statutory aggravating factor to murder will be an immediate step to increase sentences, we do not rule out further reform to ensure perpetrators are kept behind bars for longer.We will launch a public consultation this summer seeking views on whether there should be a starting point of 25 years for cases of murder where the perpetrator has controlled or coerced the victim before killing them. The current sentencing framework recognises the particular seriousness of the illegal possession and use of knives in public with a 25-year starting point for murders where a weapon used has been taken to the scene with intent. It is important that this starting point is maintained and therefore we will not be accepting the recommendation made in the Wade Review to disapply it from domestic cases. The sentencing framework must recognise the seriousness of anyone who walks onto our streets with a knife, intending to use it to cause harm. However, the changes announced today will ensure that the framework also recognises the particular seriousness of domestic murder, and this consultation will ensure all reform options have been fully explored.We will make ‘overkill’ a statutory aggravating factor in the sentencing framework for murder.Overkill is defined in the Wade Review and wider literature as the use of excessive or gratuitous violence, beyond that necessary to kill. It amounts to violation of the body and causes intense distress to the families of victims. Overkill is prevalent in domestic murders and was identified in 60% of the cases analysed for this Review.The Wade Review recommends that overkill should be added to the statutory aggravating factors to murder. This would mean that a judge must consider increasing an offender's minimum custodial term where overkill has occurred. We will introduce legislation to make this change as soon as possible. It will ensure that the horror of overkill is recognised in statute and that the anguish it causes the families of victims is taken into account when sentencing such cases.Building on our ban of the ‘rough sex defence’ in the Domestic Abuse Act, we want to see longer sentences for perpetrators of so-called rough sex manslaughter. We are requesting that the Sentencing Council update their guidelines and will keep under review the need for legislation. The government is clear the ‘rough sex defence’ is not recognised in law as a person is legally unable to consent to “serious harm”, including where it results in death. However, there continues to be concern about apparent low sentences given in some cases of manslaughter where consent to so-called rough sex is argued.The review recommends manslaughter sentencing guidelines should be amended to consider the offender highly culpable where death occurs during violence alleged to be consensual during a sexual encounter, and therefore impose a higher sentence.The production or revision of sentencing guidelines is a matter for the independent Sentencing Council. However, today I will ask the Council, which has a statutory duty to consider my request, to consider revising sentencing guidelines to reflect the recommendation made in the Wade Review. While this is our preferred approach, we will keep legislative options under review to ensure we can deliver reform.These measures build on our zero-tolerance approach to violence against women and girls by ensuring that sentencing delivers justice for the victims and families.I am very grateful to Clare Wade KC for her work on this review. I would also like to pay tribute to Carole Gould and Julie Devey for their tireless campaigning after the tragic murders of their daughters, Ellie Gould and Poppy Devey-Waterhouse.'

Home Office

Publication of the 5th annual report of the Biometrics and Forensics Ethics Group

Lord Sharpe of Epsom: Today I am pleased to announce the publication of the 5th annual report of the Biometrics and Forensic Ethics Group. The Group provides Ministers with independent advice on matters relating to ethical issues in forensic science and biometrics and considers issues in data ethics. I would like to thank the Group for their valuable advice concerning the use and retention of human biometric identifiers, and regarding the use and implementation of projects involving both large and complex datasets. The Biometrics and Forensics Ethics Group have continued to show commitment to advising the Home Office Biometrics Programme on matters regarding changes to biometric regulations and biometric enrolment. I am grateful to the Biometrics and Forensics Ethics Group for maintaining strong relationships with internal Home Office teams in order to establish a strong presence and to identify a range of projects, within their remit, which can benefit from expert ethical guidance. The Biometrics and Forensics Ethics Group annual report can be viewed on the website of the Group at https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/biometrics-and-forensics-ethics-group and a copy will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Department for Work and Pensions

Help to Claim

Viscount Younger of Leckie: My honourable Friend, the Minister of State for Employment (Guy Opperman MP) has made the following Written Statement.I am today announcing that the current Help to Claim support arrangements have been extended to 31st March 2024. Help to Claim provides tailored practical support to individuals to make their Universal Credit Claim on-line.Citizens Advice and Citizens Advice Scotland will continue to deliver independent support following a further £22.2 million investment. The provision will continue to cover England, Scotland, and Wales for 12 months, and ensures that free confidential and impartial support is available to help people make a new Universal Credit claim and manage their claim, up to receiving their first correct payment.Since April 2019, Help to Claim has supported over 800,000 people, with 9 in 10 people rating their overall experience as good or very good and would recommend it to friends and family.From April 2023, the support will continue to be provided through telephony and digital channels. For those individuals who are unable to access support via these channels, they will continue to be able to go to their local Jobcentre, where staff will identify the right support to meet their needs. This is already available to those individuals who choose to seek support from the Department directly in making a claim to Universal Credit.The Department is committed to providing the best possible support for all our claimants, including the most vulnerable in society, in both making and maintaining their claim.The Department is currently considering the support required from April 2024.